Add ceiling fans and portable fans to help circulate the air and cut down on air conditioner use.

Add ceiling fans and portable fans to help circulate the air and cut down on air conditioner use.

Photo: COURTESY LOWE'S HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Add attic insulation.

Add attic insulation.

Photo: Popular Mechanics

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Add a ridge vent on the roof to lower temperatures in the attic.

Add a ridge vent on the roof to lower temperatures in the attic.

Photo: Robert McLeroy, San Antonio Express-News

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Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.

Photo: Fotolia.com

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Consider a tankless or instantaneous water heater.

Consider a tankless or instantaneous water heater.

Photo: CEC

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Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees.

Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees.

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Buy a wind turbine if you’re in a rural area.

Buy a wind turbine if you’re in a rural area.

Photo: David Vincent, AP

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Plant trees on the west, south and east sides to shade the house.

Plant trees on the west, south and east sides to shade the house.

Photo: Oscar Williams

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Replace windows with Energy Star ones.

Replace windows with Energy Star ones.

Photo: J. MICHAEL SHORT, SPECIAL TO THE EXPRESS-NEWS

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Add solar screens.

Add solar screens.

Photo: Solrman/Wikimedia Commons

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Wash laundry in warm or cold water and rinse in cold water.

Wash laundry in warm or cold water and rinse in cold water.

Photo: Chris Gardner, Express-News/File

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Clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load.

Clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load.

Photo: Steven Senne

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Choose a light-colored roof to decrease heat transferred to the attic.

Choose a light-colored roof to decrease heat transferred to the attic.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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Buy a roof made of “cool” shingles.

Buy a roof made of “cool” shingles.

Photo: Karen Ducey/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Add a durable metal roof.

Add a durable metal roof.

Photo: DANNY WARNER

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Purchase rooftop solar shingles to help offset your energy use.

Purchase rooftop solar shingles to help offset your energy use.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Purchase a rooftop photo-voltaic solar system.

Purchase a rooftop photo-voltaic solar system.

Photo: MOLLY VAN WAGNER, KRT

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Clean with vinegar and products free of phosphates, chlorine and petroleum distillates.

Clean with vinegar and products free of phosphates, chlorine and petroleum distillates.

Photo: Kevin Lorenzi

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Choose countertops made of recycled glass.

Choose countertops made of recycled glass.

Photo: Courtesy Vetrazzo

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Consider reclaimed wood flooring.

Consider reclaimed wood flooring.

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Opt for cork floors.

Opt for cork floors.

Photo: Peter DaSilva, SFC

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Use concrete for countertops or floors.

Use concrete for countertops or floors.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Use acrylic paint that gives off low volatile organic compounds.

Use acrylic paint that gives off low volatile organic compounds.

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Run full loads of laundry and in the dishwasher.

Run full loads of laundry and in the dishwasher.

Photo: Kenmore

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Replace toilets with low-flow or dual-flush models.

Replace toilets with low-flow or dual-flush models.

Photo: ROBERT MCLEROY, Express-News/File

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Repair dripping faucets promptly.

Repair dripping faucets promptly.

Photo: Express-News/File

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Install low-flow showerheads on showers and aerators on faucets.

Install low-flow showerheads on showers and aerators on faucets.

Photo: Courtesy Of Real Goods

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Inspect sprinkler systems for leaks.

Inspect sprinkler systems for leaks.

Photo: Express-News File Photo

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Collect rainwater to water plants and lawn.

Collect rainwater to water plants and lawn.

Photo: OMAR PEREZ

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Xeriscape. Plant drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials and give them the proper amount of sunlight.

Xeriscape. Plant drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials and give them the proper amount of sunlight.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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Start a compost pile. Not only does composting recycle kitchen waste, the end product is a nourishing amendment for gardens and planting beds.

Start a compost pile. Not only does composting recycle kitchen waste, the end product is a nourishing amendment for gardens and planting beds.

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Use a manual lawn mower.

Use a manual lawn mower.

Photo: M. Spencer Green, STF

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Leave grass clippings on your yard as mulch.

Leave grass clippings on your yard as mulch.

Photo: Lee Reich, STR

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50 ways to make a home more energy-efficient

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An eco-friendly house can be any shade of green, from the palest mint to the deepest forest. Adopting some ecologically friendly products and energy-saving techniques can lower energy bills and improve indoor air quality while helping the environment.

Where to start? First see how efficient your home is with the Home Energy Yardstick at www.energystar.gov.

Or, look into CPS Energy’s $25 home evaluation, which provides homeowners with a list of cost-effective upgrades for homes built before 2000. The program runs through June 30. For more information, visit www.cpsenergysavers.com.

Later this month, you can get a close-up look at some of the newest energy-saving houses on the market during the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s Spring Green Parade of Homes, which begins Saturday and runs through May 27 at Cibolo Canyons.

Visitors to homes will be able to see a range of energy-saving features. Wayne Moravits, president of Monticello Homes, a participant in the builder showcase, said energy-saving features in his company’s house range from insulation to Energy Star appliances and windows, tankless gas water heaters and fresh-air ventilation systems. Most of the countertops are made from recycled products.